NBA Saturday: Thunder continue sizzling run

Saturday

Dec 27, 2014 at 6:09 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook’s 29-point outing, his career-best 11th straight game with 25-plus, helped the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 98-75 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Westbrook had to take a bulk of the scoring load once again because his star teammate, Kevin Durant, sat for a fifth consecutive game due to a sprained ankle. Serge Ibaka scored 13 points with a season-high 14 rebounds and Anthony Morrow chipped in 11 points for Oklahoma City, which won for a second straight day after a two- game skid. The Thunder were coming off a 114-106 win over San Antonio on Christmas. Brian Roberts paced the Hornets with 17 points off the bench and Marvin Williams added 11 points in a reserve role.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook’s 29-point outing, his career-best 11th straight game with 25-plus, helped the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 98-75 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Westbrook had to take a bulk of the scoring load once again because his star teammate, Kevin Durant, sat for a fifth consecutive game due to a sprained ankle. Serge Ibaka scored 13 points with a season-high 14 rebounds and Anthony Morrow chipped in 11 points for Oklahoma City, which won for a second straight day after a two- game skid. The Thunder were coming off a 114-106 win over San Antonio on Christmas. Brian Roberts paced the Hornets with 17 points off the bench and Marvin Williams added 11 points in a reserve role.

Dallas 102, LA Lakers 98

DALLAS — Rajon Rondo turned in a game-high 21 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists as Dallas claimed a 102-98 win over the Lakers on Friday. Tyson Chandler picked up 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Monta Ellis chipped in 15 and Dirk Nowitzki followed with 14 points and eight boards for the Mavericks, who snapped a two-game slide and have won four of their last six. Carlos Boozer poured in 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Los Angeles, which has lost five of their last seven and two of three with Kobe Bryant on the sidelines. Nick Young totaled 15 with Jordan Hill and Wayne Ellington adding 12 points each in defeat. The Mavs led 95-79 with 3:56 remaining on Rondo’s lone triple of the contest, but the Lakers gradually chipped away for the remainder.

Denver 106, Minnesota 102

DENVER — Kenneth Faried racked up 26 points and a career-best 25 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets needed every last one to hold off the Minnesota Timberwolves by a 106-102 score. Faried, who finished 11- of-15 from the field, was one of three Nuggets to record a double-double as Denver halted a two-game skid. Ty Lawson compiled 16 points with 11 assists, while Timofey Mozgov pulled down 14 boards in addition to netting 11 points. Wilson Chandler contributed 21 points to help the Nuggets send the Western Conference cellar-dwelling Timberwolves to a seventh consecutive defeat. Thaddeus Young had 23 points for Minnesota and Andrew Wiggins tallied 22 in the loss, with Gorgui Dieng amassing 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Houston 117, Memphis 111 (OT)

MEMPHIS — James Harden had 32 points, including a tying layup late in regulation, and the Houston Rockets scored eight of their 13 points in overtime at the foul line to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-111 on Friday night. Josh Smith had 21 points and eight rebounds in his Rockets debut after being signed earlier in the day and Harden added 10 assists. Harden’s layup with 15.5 seconds remaining in regulation tied the score and came after Vince Carter had made two go-ahead 3-pointers for the Grizzlies. Houston took a half-game lead over Memphis in the Southwest Division, handing the Grizzlies their first four-game losing streak in more than a year. Corey Brewer added 13 points for Houston, Trevor Ariza scored 15 with 10 rebounds and Patrick Beverley had 12 points in the win.

New Orleans 97, San Antonio 90

NEW ORLEANS — With Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson each netting 22 points to lead the way, the New Orleans Pelicans dealt the ailing San Antonio Spurs another loss with a 97-90 decision at Smoothie King Center. Davis added 12 rebounds and five blocks and Anderson provided a spark off the bench in a key victory for New Orleans, which also received 15 points and seven assists from Jrue Holiday. The defending world champion Spurs fell for the sixth time in seven games and took the court minus Tony Parker due to a hamstring injury, with Kawhi Leonard remaining on the sidelines with a torn ligament in his hand. Tim Duncan did come up with 20 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, while Cory Joseph also had 20 points starting in place of Parker. However, the Spurs were hurt by 17 turnovers that led to 20 New Orleans points.

Brooklyn 109, Boston 107

BOSTON — Jarrett Jack’s late jumper helped seal the Brooklyn Nets’ impressive 109-107 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday afternoon. Jack finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Alan Anderson scored 15 off the bench and Mason Plumlee had 14 points and 12 boards for the Nets, who have won three straight games. Jeff Green had 22 points and five assists, Jared Sullinger contributed 19 points and eight boards and Avery Bradley netted 17 points for the Celtics, who have lost three in a row.

Cleveland 98, Orlando 89

ORLANDO, Fla. — LeBron James scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 98-89 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night. Kevin Love had 22 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland despite not playing the fourth quarter and Dion Waiters scored 17. The Cavaliers snapped a three-game road losing streak and have won four of their last five overall. They were coming off 101-91 loss to the Heat on Christmas in James’ return to Miami. Tobias Harris had 16 points and Evan Fournier scored 15 to lead the Magic, who have dropped five of their last six and finished 1-3 on a four-game homestand. The Cavs were without point guard Kyrie Irving (knee) but got their ninth consecutive win over Orlando.

Milwaukee 107, Atlanta 77

ATLANTA — Jared Dudley was perfect off the bench, making all 10 of his shots and finishing with 24 points in leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 107-77 rout of the Atlanta Hawks Friday night in the first of a home-and-home set. Dudley, who drained four 3-pointers, was one of six Milwaukee players to reach double figures in scoring. Brandon Knight had 16 points and Zaza Pachulia added 14 with eight rebounds for the Bucks, who snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Hawks and matched last season’s victory total of 15 in their 30th game. Johnny O’Bryant and Jerryd Bayless each scored 12 points and O.J. Mayo supplied 11 as Milwaukee ended a five-game slide at Atlanta. The Bucks posted their first win at Philips Arena since Nov. 10, 2010.

Detroit 119, Indiana 109

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Andre Drummond put together 20 points, six rebounds and three steals as Detroit posted a 119-109 victory over Indiana on Friday. Greg Monroe followed with 19 points and a game-best 15 rebounds for the Pistons, who put their four-game losing streak to rest and won just their sixth game all season. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 15 points, with Brandon Jennings and D.J. Augustin picking up 14 points apiece. Roy Hibbert topped the list with 19 points while Solomon Hill, CJ Watson and Luis Scola all posted 14 for the Pacers, who failed to win a season-best third straight game.

Portland 114, Philadelphia 93

PORTLAND — Damian Lillard scored 28 points with nine assists, Wesley Matthews tallied 25 points and the Portland Trail Blazers cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers, 114-93, on Friday. Lillard and Matthews connected on 10 of the Blazers’ season-high 18 3-pointers, with Matthews converting 7-of-14 tries from deep. Already playing without center Robin Lopez, LaMarcus Aldridge (upper respiratory illness) and Chris Kaman (child’s birth) were both out of the lineup as well. In stepped Joel Freeland, who scored six points and pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds in Portland’s fifth straight win at home. Tony Wroten scored 22 points for the Sixers, who had a season-high two-game winning streak snapped. Michael Carter-Williams added 17 points with six rebounds and five assists.

Phoenix 115, Sacramento 106

SACRAMENTO — Isaiah Thomas scored 17 points off the bench in his return to Sacramento to help the Phoenix Suns come through with a 115-106 victory over the scuffling Kings. Thomas, traded to the Suns in July after three very productive seasons in Sacramento, put up eight of his points during a 16-2 second-half run that lifted Phoenix to a season- high fifth straight win. Fellow reserve Marcus Morris also had a big night for the Suns, hitting 6-of-7 attempts from 3-point range to finish with 20 points. Eric Bledsoe and Markieff Morris contributed 18 and 17 points, respectively, while Goran Dragic had 16 along with six assists. Playing without star center DeMarcus Cousins due to a stomach virus, Sacramento suffered its seventh loss in eight games after failing to match Phoenix’s markmanship from the perimeter, as the Suns went 14-of-33 on 3-point tries. Darren Collison paced the Kings with 19 points and Rudy Gay and Derrick Williams both had 16 in defeat. Reggie Evans compiled 11 points and 16 rebounds starting in place of Cousins.

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